ytdl-org/youtube-dl · error · ExtractorError

This video is DRM protected.

Error message

This video is DRM protected.

What it means

Error "This video is DRM protected." thrown in ytdl-org/youtube-dl.

Source

Thrown at youtube_dl/extractor/ninenow.py:70

                webpage, 'page data'), display_id), display_id)

        for kind in ('episode', 'clip'):
            current_key = page_data.get(kind, {}).get(
                'current%sKey' % kind.capitalize())
            if not current_key:
                continue
            cache = page_data.get(kind, {}).get('%sCache' % kind, {})
            if not cache:
                continue
            common_data = (cache.get(current_key) or list(cache.values())[0])[kind]
            break
        else:
            raise ExtractorError('Unable to find video data')

        video_data = common_data['video']

        if video_data.get('drm'):
            raise ExtractorError('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)

        brightcove_id = video_data.get('brightcoveId') or 'ref:' + video_data['referenceId']
        video_id = compat_str(video_data.get('id') or brightcove_id)
        title = common_data['name']

        thumbnails = [{
            'id': thumbnail_id,
            'url': thumbnail_url,
            'width': int_or_none(thumbnail_id[1:])
        } for thumbnail_id, thumbnail_url in common_data.get('image', {}).get('sizes', {}).items()]

        return {
            '_type': 'url_transparent',
            'url': smuggle_url(
                self.BRIGHTCOVE_URL_TEMPLATE % brightcove_id,
                {'geo_countries': self._GEO_COUNTRIES}),
            'id': video_id,
            'title': title,

View on GitHub (pinned to 956b8c5855)

Solutions

1. DRM-protected content cannot be downloaded by youtube-dl; use an official player.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at youtube_dl/extractor/ninenow.py:70 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of ytdl-org/youtube-dl@956b8c5855 (2026-08-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/c25add218e95a222. Report an issue: GitHub.